napoleon bonaparte, v8-第9部分

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the　transparencies　on　the　front　representing　Peace　uniting　the　august
spouses。　　Beside　them　stood　two　figures　bearing　shields；　on　which　were
represented　the　arms　of　the　two　empires；　and　behind　this　group　came
magistrates；　warriors；　and　the　people　presenting　crowns。　　At　the　two
extremities　of　the　transparencies　were　represented　the　Seine　and　the
Danube；　surrounded　by　children…image　of　fecundity。　　The　twelve　columns　of
the　peristyle　and　the　staircase　were　illuminated；　and　the　columns　were
united　by　garlands　of　colored　lights；　the　statues　on　the　peristyle　and
the　steps　also　bearing　lights。　　The　bridge　Louis　XV。；　by　which　this
Temple　of　Hymen　was　reached；　formed　in　itself　an　avenue；　whose　double
rows　of　lamps；　and　obelisks　and　more　than　a　hundred　columns；　each
surmounted　by　a　star　and　connected　by　spiral　festoons　of　colored　lights；
produced　an　effect　so　brilliant　that　it　was　almost　unendurable　to　the
naked　eye。　　The　cupola　of　the　dome　of　Saint　Genevieve　was　also
magnificently　lighted；　and　each　side　outlined　by　a　double　row　of　lamps。
At　each　corner　were　eagles；　ciphers　in　colored　glass；　and　garlands　of
fire　suspended　between　torches　of　Hymen。　　The　peristyle　of　the　dome　was
lighted　by　lamps　placed　between　each　column；　and　as　the　columns　were　not
lighted　they　seemed　as　if　suspended　in　the　air。　　The　lantern　tower　was　a
blaze　of　light；　and　all　this　mass　of　brilliancy　was　surmounted　by　a
tripod　representing　the　altar　of　Hymen；　from　which　shot　tongues　of　flame；
produced　by　bituminous　materials。　　At　a　great　elevation　above　the
platform　of　the　observatory；　an　immense　star；　isolated　from　the　platform；
and　which　from　the　variety　of　many…colored　glasses　composing　it　sparkled
like　a　vast　diamond；　under　the　dome　of　night。　　The　palace　of　the　senate
also　attracted　a　large　number　of　the　curious；　but　I　have　already　extended
too　far　the　description　of　this　wonderful　scene　which　unfolded　itself　at
every　step　before　us。

The　city　of　Paris　did　homage　to　her　Majesty　the　Empress　by　presenting　her
with　a　toilet　set　even　more　magnificent　than　that　formerly　presented　to
the　Empress　Josephine。　　Everything　was　in　silver　gilt；　even　the　arm　chair
and　the　cheval　glass。　　The　paintings　on　the　exquisite　furniture　had　been
made　by　the　first　artists；　and　the　elegance　and　finish　of　the　ornaments
surpassed　even　the　rich　ness　of　the　materials。

About　the　end　of　April　their　Majesties　set　out　together　to　visit　the
departments　of　the　North；　and　the　journey　was　an　almost　exact　repetition
of　the　one　I　made　in　1804　with　the　Emperor；　only　the　Empress　was　no
longer　the　good；　kind　Josephine。　　While　passing　again　through　all　these
towns；　where　I　had　seen　her　welcomed　with　so　much　enthusiasm；　and　who　now
addressed　the　same　adoration　and　homage　to　a　new　sovereign；　and　while
seeing　again　the　chateaux　of　Lacken；　Brussels；　Antwerp；　Boulogne；　and
many　other　places　where　I　had　seen　Josephine　pass　in　triumph；　as　at
present　Marie　Louise　passed；　I　thought　with　chagrin　of　the　isolation　of
the　first　wife　from　her　husband；　and　the　suffering　which　must　penetrate
even　into　her　retreat；　as　she　was　told　of　the　honors　rendered　to　the　one
who　had　succeeded　her　in　the　Emperor's　heart　and　on　the　Imperial　throne。

The　King　and　Queen　of　Westphalia　and　Prince　Eugene　accompanied　their
Majesties。　　We　saw　a　vessel　with　eighty　cannon　launched　at　Antwerp；　which
received；　before　leaving　the　docks；　the　benediction　of　M。　de　Pradt；
Archbishop　of　Malines。　　The　King　of　Holland；　who　joined　the　Emperor　at
Antwerp；　felt　most　unkindly　towards　his　Majesty；　who　had　recently
required　of　him　the　cession　of　a　part　of　his　states；　and　soon　after
seized　the　remainder。　　He　was；　however；　present　in　Paris　at　the　marriage
fetes　of　the　Emperor；　who　had　even　sent　him　to　meet　Marie　Louise；　but　the
two　brothers　had　not　ceased　their　mutual　distrust　of　each　other；　and　it
must　be　admitted　that　that　of　King　Louis　had　only　too　good　foundation。
What　struck　me　as　very　singular　in　their　altercations　was　that　the
Emperor；　in　the　absence　of　his　brother；　gave　vent　to　the　most　terrible
bursts　of　rage；　and　to　violent　threats　against　him；　while　if　they　had　an
interview　they　treated　each　other　in　the　most　amicable　and　familiar　and
brotherly　manner。　　Apart　they　were；　the　one；　Emperor　of　the　French；　the
other；　King　of　Holland；　with　opposite　interests　and　views；　together　they
were　no　more　than；　if　I　may　be　permitted　to　so　express　myself；　Napoleon
and　Louis；　companions　and　friends　from　childhood。

Prince　Louis　was　habitually　sad　and　melancholy。　　The　annoyances　he
experienced　on　the　throne；　where　he　had　been　placed　against　his　will；
added　to　his　domestic　troubles；　made　him　evidently　very　unhappy；　and　all
who　knew　him　pitied　him　sincerely；　for　King　Louis　was　an　excellent
master；　and　an　honest　man　of　much　merit。　　It　has　been　said　that　when　the
Emperor　had　decided　on　the　union　of　Holland　and　France；　King　Louis
resolved　to　defend　himself　in　the　town　of　Amsterdam　to　the　last
extremity；　and　to　break　the　dikes　and　inundate　the　whole　country　if
necessary；　in　order　to　arrest　the　invasion　of　the　French　troops。　　I　do
not　know　whether　this　is　true；　but　from　what　I　have　seen　of　this　prince's
character；　I　am　very　sure　that；　while　having　enough　personal　courage　to
expose　his　own　person　to　all　the　chances　of　this　desperate　alternative；
his　naturally　kind　heart　and　his　humanity　would　have　prevented　the
execution　of　this　project。

At　Middleburg　the　Emperor　embarked　on　board　the　Charlemagne　to　visit　the
mouth　of　the　Scheldt　and　the　port　and　island　of　Flushing。　　During　this
excursion　we　were　assailed　by　a　terrible　tempest；　three　anchors　were
broken　in　succession；　we　met　with　other　accidents；　and　encountered　great
dangers。

The　Emperor　was　made　very　sick；　and　every　few　moments　threw　himself　on
his　bed；　making　violent　but　unsuccessful　efforts　to　vomit；　which　rendered
his　sickness　more　distressing。　　I　was　fortunate　enough　not　to　be　at　all
inconvenienced；　and　was　thus　in　a　position　to　give　him　all　the　attention
he　required；　though　all　the　persons　of　his　suite　were　sick；　and　my　uncle；
who　was　usher　on　duty；　and　obliged　to　remain　standing　at　the　door　of　his
Majesty's　cabin；　fell　over　continually；　and　suffered　agony。　　During　this
time　of　torment；　which　lasted　for　three　days；　the　Emperor　was　bursting
with　impatience。　　〃I　think；〃　said　he；　〃that　I　would　have　made　a　pretty
admiral。〃

A　short　time　after　our　return　from　this　voyage；　the　Emperor　wished　her
Majesty　the　Empress　to　learn　to　ride　on　horseback；　and　for　this　purpose
she　went　to　the　riding…hall　of　Saint…Cloud。　　Several　persons　of　the
household　were　in　the　gallery　to　see　her　take　her　first　lesson；　I　among
the　number；　and　I　noticed　the　tender　solicitude　of　the　Emperor　for　his
young　wife；　who　was　mounted　on　a　gentle；　well…broken　horse；　while　the
Emperor　held　her　hand　and　walked　by　her　side；　M。　Jardin；　Sr。；　holding　the
horse's　bridle。　　At　the　first　step　the　horse　made；　the　Empress　screamed
with　fright；　whereupon　the　Emperor　said　to　her；　〃Come；　Louise；　be　brave。
What　have　you　to　fear？　　Am　I　not　here？　　〃And　thus　the　lesson　passed；　in
encouragement　on　one　side　and　fright　on　the　other。　　The　next　day　the
Emperor　ordered　the　persons　in　the　gallery　to　leave；　as　they　embarrassed
the　Empress；　but　she　soon　overcame　her　timidity；　and　ended　by　becoming　a
very　good　horsewoman；　often　racing　in　the　park　with　her　ladies　of　honor
and　Madame　the　Duchess　of　Montebello；　who　also　rode　with　much　grace。　　A
coach　with　some　ladies　followed　the　Empress；　and　Prince　Aldobrandini；　her
equerry；　never　left　her　in　her　rides。

The　Empress　was　at　an　age　in　which　one　enjoys　balls　and　fetes；　but　the
Emperor　feared　above　all　things　her　becoming　tired；　and　consequently
rejoicings　and　amusements　were　given　up　at　the　court　and　in　the　city。
A　fete　given　in　honor　of　their　Majesties　by　the　Prince　of　Schwartzenberg；
ambassador　from　Austria；　ended　in　a　frightful　accident。

The　prince　occupied　the　former　Hotel　de　la　Montesson　in　the　rue　de　la
Chaussee　d'Antin；　and　in　order　to　give　this　ball　had　added　to　this
residence　a　broad　hall　and　wooden　gallery；　decorated　with　quantities　of
flowers；　banners；　candelabra；　etc。　　Just　as　the　Emperor；　who　had　been
present　at　the　fete　for　two　or　three　hours；　was　about　to　retire；　one　of
the　curtains；　blown　by　the　breeze；　took　fire　from　the　lights；　which　had
been　placed　too　near　the　windows；　and　was　instantly　in　flames。　　Some
persons　made　ineffectual　efforts　to　extinguish　the　fire　by　tearing　down
the　drapery　and　smothering　the　flames　with　their　hands；　but　in　the
twinkling　of　an　eye　the　curtains；　papers；　and　garlands　caught；　and　the
wood…work　began　to　burn。

The　Emperor　was　one　of　the　first　to　perceive　the　rapid　progress　of　the
fire；　and　foresee　the　results。　　He　approached　the　Empress；　who　had
already　risen　to　join　him；　and　got　out　with　her；　not　without　some
difficulty；　on　account　of　the　crowd　which　rushed　towards　the　doors；　the
Queens　of　Holland；　Naples；　Westphalia；　the　Princess　Borghese；　etc。；
following　their　Majesties；　while　the　Vice…queen　of　Italy；　who　was
pregnant；　remained　in　the　hall；　on　the　platform　containing　the　Imperial
boxes。　　The　vice…king；　fearing　the　crowd　as　much　as　the　fire　for　his
wife；　took　her　out　through　a　little　door　that　had　been　cut　in　the
platform　in　order　to　serve　refreshments　to　their　Majesties。　　No　one　had
thought　of　this　opening　before　Prince　Eugene；　and　only　a　few　persons　went
out　with　him。　　Her　Majesty　the　Queen　of　Westphalia　did　not　think　herself
safe；　even　when　she　had　reached　the　terrace；　and　in　her　fright　rushed
into　the　rue　Taitbout；　where　she　was　found　by　a　passer…by。

The　Emperor　accompanied　the　Empress　as　far　as　the　entrance　of　the　Champs…
Elysees；　where　he　left　her　to　return　to　the　fire；　and　did　not　re…enter
Saint…Cloud　until　four　o'clock　in　the　morning。　　From　the　time　of　the
arrival　of　the　Empress　we　were　in　a　state　of　terrible　apprehension；　and
every　one　in　the　chateau　was　a　prey　to　the　greatest　anxiety　in　regard　to
the　Emperor。　　At　last　he　arrived　unharmed；　but　very　tired；　his　clothing
all　in　disorder；　and　his　face　blackened　with　smoke；　his　shoes　and
stockings　scorched　and　burned　by　the　fire。　　He　went　directly　to　the
chamber　of　the　Empress　to　assure　himself　if　she